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Title: The Orchid Affair

Author: Lauren Willig

Narrator: Kate Reading

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-20-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 470 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"Pride and Prejudice lives on" (USA Today) in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, which has been hailed for its addictive blend of history, romance, and adventure. In The Orchid Affair, Willig introduces her strongest heroine yet.

Laura Grey, a veteran governess, joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling exploits in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of Andre Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte's minister of police. Jaouen and his arch rival, Gaston Delaroche, are investigating a suspected Royalist plot to unseat Bonaparte, and Laura's mission is to report any suspicious findings.

At first, the job is as lively as Latin textbooks and knitting, but Laura begins to notice strange behavior from Jaouen: secret meetings and odd comings and goings. As Laura edges herself closer to her employer, she makes a shocking discovery and is surprised to learn that she has far more in common with Jaouen than she originally thought.

As their plots begin to unravel, Laura and Jaouen are forced on the run with the children, and with the help of the Pink Carnation, they escape to the countryside, traveling as husband and wife. But Delaroche will stop at nothing to take down his nemesis. With his men hot on their trail, can Laura and Jaouen seal the fate of Europe before it's too late?

Members Reviews:

Back in Paris!

After two installments that did not deal with the Pink Carnation and France, Lauren Willig brings her readers back to Paris with the Pink Carnation and the Silver Orchid, a graduate of the Selwick's spy school. The plot from the past is satisfying. And the Eloise's personal story takes on surprising turns. Fans of the Pink Carnation series will enjoy this.

Reminds me of The Scarlet Pimpernel :)

If you ever enjoyed The Scarlet Pimpernel books, you'll definitely enjoy The Orchid Affair. I really liked the way the story goes back and forth between contemporary and historic times--two stories in one. This is a very cleverly done novel. I highly recommend it!

Ehhh...I've read better

Would you try another book from Lauren Willig and/or Kate Reading?

Kate Reading yes, Lauren Willig, probably not for a while. I read The Mischief of the Mistletoe about a year ago and loved it. I thought this would have a similar feel. I like light humor and tongue and cheek banter between characters. This didn't have much of it.

I also seriously disliked the whole contemporary story line thrown in. It seemed totally out of place and I fast forwarded through most of it. Granted, I've not read/listned to any other of the Pink Carnation series. I would imagine the contemporary story line makes more sense to those who have read other books in the series.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm not sure yet. I usually go for the sale items.

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I'm not too picky about readers, but in a romance novel I much prefer a female reader. Kate Reading does an excellent job reading both male and female parts. I know some reviewers complained that they could not distinguish between the male voices, I didn't have that problem.

What character would you cut from The Orchid Affair?

I would cut out the contemporary store line.